"Who is going to save our Church? Not our bishops, not our priests and religious. It is up to you, the people. You have the minds, the eyes, the ears to save the Church. Your mission is to see that your priests act like priests, your bishops, like bishops, and your religious act like religious." - Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, 1972

Sunday, June 12, 2016

JUST IMAGINE

Honestly, we don't even know if he saw him or not. Walter should have introduced himself. You know the phrase "All Chinese look the same," well it applies to every race as well. I've heard people say all Blacks look the same, all Whites look the same, all Koreans look the same, etc. In this case it's all Chamorros look the same and maybe he failed to notice. But are we seriously going to put him at fault for that? The people who knew he was there should've backed him up and introduce him. (i.g "This was the victim of the bishop. How can you restore unity when our brothers have suffered tremendous pain in silence all these years, while the man responsible still has the the title of Archbishop of Agana?" or "How are you going to help the victims such as Walter standing right efore you?) Theres so much miscommunication, that there were better ways to go about this. This is why we should request meetings with Archbishop Hon and talk about it, rather than assuming he's not here to really help and it's all just for show. Because honestly, it's better than nothing. It's better than Apuron being in charge. He just has the title and soon it will be taken away from him. He doesn't have the power anymore so can't we just be grateful for what we have and #stayhumble. It's as that saying goes: Help me help you. How do we expect Archbishop Hon to help us without any dialogue? We can't just assume he reads junglewatch.

*****

Let’s put this in perspective. While I am sure Rome had been planning to replace Apuron for awhile, they could not go forward without a grave reason. Apuron’s treatment of Roy and Doris, provided that grave reason.

It had nothing to do with whether their stories could be proven true or not. After two decades of the most horrible scandals and the payment of billions of dollars in damages to victims, the Church in Rome had finally woken up to a "duty of care to the victim’s first” mentality.

This is why even our terribly anemic local policy at bare minimum at least mandates immediate attention to the needs of the person making the allegation. Proof can be taken care of later.

But that’s not what Apuron (his goons actually) did. As you know he beat them up in public just like he did Msgr. James and Fr. Paul.

There is no doubt that this provided the grave reason for Rome to immediately act and replace Apuron with an Administrator.

So the reason Hon is actually here NOW is because of the horrible mishandling of the allegations of abuse by Roy and Doris.

Then on the eve of his arrival, Walter Denton shares a most horrific account of what Apuron did to him when he was 13.

Make no mistake, while there were many reasons to replace Apuron, it was the treatment of Roy and Doris which created the emergency which brought Hon here. So it is NOT like he did not know that reason. Then with Walter coming forward one day before his arrival, that emergency was multiplied.

So for Hon to get here and pretend that none of this is happening, and for it to be way down on his to do list, is not just suspicious, it is terrible. Hon’s ignoring the victims is almost as bad as Apuron’s bashing them.

Here’s what a bishop sincere on healing would have done.

The first order of business would have been to publicly express his concern for those who had come forward.

Second, a personal invitation to each of them to hear them out.

Third, a public statement assuring us all that he will tend to the personal needs of the victims and will personally see to the investigation as required by the Vatican when a bishop is named the perpetrator.

All of that could have taken no more than an hour and all would have been well in Agana. But Hon didn’t do that. The needs of the victims were NOT first, even though Rome has assured us with the greatest sincerity that the Church universally has become proactive in this regard.

So you want to blame Walter for not walking up to Hon directly and pulling on his vestments and say “Hey I’m Walter.” Really?

From the beginning. It should have been Hon walking up to Walter and saying “Hey, I’m here for you. The Church is here for you. We love you.”

Can you imagine what that might have done for Walter after 40 years of hell? Can you imagine what that might have done for all of us? Can you imagine what that would have done for our Church.

37 comments:

AGREED .... especially knowing that the AG has already contradicted herself when she first gave the opinion that errors related to land documents shall be referred to the courts for correction, and then later, she said that it is OK to do it administratively! She broke the law, didn't she?

2ndly, we are told that child sexual abuse is a criminal offense and that there is no statute of limitation. Okkkkkk. BUT, then the AG says that the offenses occurred too many years ago and can not be prosecuted. AG, did you make that determination before or after you discussed the issue behind closed doors?

In the meantime, let's keep those petions circulating; let's get emails to Senators Blas and Aguon to facilitate a date for a Public Hearing. (As I understand it, the Committee Chair, Sen R Respicio, sets the date whenever he is inclined to (OR NOT)! Send Respicio an email too!

And then there is Sen Tom Ada. He participated in the silent protest this morning in front of the Cathedral. Nice, But he would be MORE EFFECTIVE if he followed through with what he offered us .... to conduct an oversight hearing in order to discover if anything illegal transpired involving the RMS land documents. So, Senator, are going to do your job ... OR NOT? You don't want to rock the boat, either, do you? You concluded that it is far more effective to let Bob Klitzsky and the CCOG hire a legal expert (pay out big bucks at the expense of the every-day faithful, Jose and Maria Catholic) rather than do it as part of your job description?! ! Stay in your office!!!! Respond to YOUR calling! Let us know the date and we will come support you!

I know that everyone is saying that we don't need to revisit previous issues because Apuron has been accused of being a pedophile and he should be quickly dismissed, replaced, etc... Well, as we have seen, it AIN'T happening, at least, not yet! So in the meantime, if everyone pursues relentlessly with each's calling by the Holy Spirit from the various angles, we should have a "quicker" resolution to the elimination of Apuron and the NCW from our precious island! May the Archangel Gabriel protect us in battle!

No one is assuming Archbishop Hon is not really here to help or that it's for show. What we want to know is WHO is he really here to help and when will he actually start helping?Walter? So far, NO.Doris? That would be a NO TOO. Roy? Yeah, NO.Already Archbishop Hon has bungled his assignment. Apuron's law will soon apply to him. What is he waiting for? That is the question I want to know. A lot of things could have been handled differently like Apuron vetted properly before being given authority over our spiritual life. And that's what pisses me off the most, is that we have priests walking around who are no better than thugs and common criminals up there on the pulpit preaching against what they themselves are guilty of. Damn those priests and damn Apuron for leading our Archdiocese to rot! I am impatient for healing to begin and we've all suffered enough spiritually the past couple of years yet Archbishop Hon has arrived and we have not seen action except invitations to unity. What is he waiting for? Christmas? Good grief!

Are you really waiting to see if a fourth or fifth victims steps up?Seriously? Better act fast by reaching out to these first three; move them to the top of your agenda. Make sure you are not flanked by Apuron's goons. We'll be watching and praying you do this.

I guess the Vatican continues to think that we Chamorros are dependent on them for salvation. That's my great grandma's generation. We've been Americans for over 118 years and the protestant ethic is alive and well in my generation, i.e., I have my Bible and know how to read so I'm good. Jesus didn't start the Church, His followers did. Jesus's formula for salvation was a simple "Do as I do." The longer it takes for Hon to get rid of Apuron, Quitugua, Cristobal and Pius, the more ingrained the American protestant ethic will be in our thinking and in our culture.

For a brief shining moment, we had hoped for a reprieve from the nightmare we have gone through. We firmly believed that with the arrival of a new administrator we could work together to correct the wrongs, address issues, accept sensible decisions, and move on with greater trust in the universal Church. Alas, no sooner had the bright light appeared, hope got dampened by explicit inaction and seeming equivocation by the one who bore the torch to provide light.

I think you are right, Tim. A caring bishop who knows how to listen and lead in these matters would have done what you proposed. I have seen this kind of leadership in Africa. Maybe the archbishop is still new at this kind of thing, or has never seen it modeled and does not know how efficacious it is.

Timothy, so why is he here? Did he think he was sent to Guam just to take his morning ocean dips or do his laps? We want nothing of that sort! He should have rolled his sleeves from day one, and he should have his research concluded since the last time he was here! Yet we observe he makes light of the situation at the prayer service, canoodles with the VG and Chancellor who should have been asked to step down, attends the RMS gala, ignores the survivors of clergy sex abuse, makes comment aboyt a protest dying down? What does he think people will say of his disconnect? That these are activities of someone who is about to resolve problems? One cannot go to war, while wearing a tutu and pirouetting his way to the conflict! Wear your helmet and your combat boots to attack!

One important point we need to make. It was not by chance Walter stood a mere 10 feet or less away to Hon's right, which was close and still in Hon's line of vision. Walter intentionally got up close to Hon to meet him. Of all the protestors there, he was the only one that got up close to Hon. Because he was not recognized(although he is the most recognizable face in Guam right now), or not acknowledged, he reached out to the priest next to Hon and ask him to introduce him to Hon, and to make sure the priest understood why he was asking, Walter said I am one of the victims. How much clearer can one get? That was an attention grabber if I ever saw one. But no response. They just walked away. And please note that it was not as if Hon did not shake any of the protestors' hands. He moved forward and shook several of their hands with one going forward to kiss his ring. Yet, he chose to ignore the most important person, a victim, in the crowd who was standing a mere 10 feet or less away from him. NOT GOOD.

Archbishop Hon has shown NO compassion for Walter, Roy and Sonny who are alleged childhood victims of sexual abuse! .Archbishop Hon is the instrument of the Vatican. Therefore the Vatican has no compassion for children who are victims of sexual abuse!!!!!. Aren't children the key to the kingdom of God? This is just a bunch of bullshit if you ask me. Keep posting everything Tim. You're dedication has and will continue to show the world the truth.

Don't let your guard down because he's from Rome and has a fancy title. Just because he was wielding his fancy staff at the top of the steps of the cathedral doesn't mean that we should be groveling at his feet. He's a smooth-talking high-level Vatican political troubleshooter intent in protecting church interests and world image. Maybe he wants to charm us angry natives into submission with singing, praying and soothing scriptural verses so he can go back to his cushy job in a few weeks. If Rome sent the wrong guy to do the job, then we loudly run him out of town. Keep the pressure up, people. Courage.

HON seemed a little lost and out of his element. Also he is still surrounded by NEO clergy. How can anything change. He needs to shut it down and replace the VG and Chancellor to start with. Then Work on RMS.

Does the Pope need to come Guam or the people who made the 2015 Academy Award Best Picture of the year "Spotlight" (The true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core.) to add more heat

I just saw "Spotlight" for the second time, after a visit to Guam (used to live here). I was surprised about the similarities between the two archdioceses and the way they chose to handle the scandals. I don't know if it is possible but it would be interesting for there to be a sponsored viewing of the film on Guam.

Seriously, I don't understand the type of christianity you people practice. What happens to "judgment is of the Lord". Nowadays, people judge as if they are fighting for God. In the book of judges, it was written therein "If Baal is a God, let him fight for himself"..... So why drag Bishops because of past sins? Who knows, the man might have repented of his sins and found forgiveness, but alas, Satan is ever ready to use "those who allow themselves to be used" to bring to fore his past sins. You all love having Bishops and Arch Bishops smeared in scandals, keep it up, Jesus is coming back to reward everyone, according to the works of their hands.

Because the past sins committed involved young male children who are scarred for the rest of their lives, with the exception of Sonny who is already in God's Heavenly Kingdom, we are dragging the one who committed the unspeakable crimes through the wringer. If our Bishop had repented for his sins, he could not be calling the victims "Liars" and "Threatening to SUE"! He is walking around freely, flying everywhere with the donations that the Catholic Churches collects every Sunday, eating his favorite foods, driving his expensive cars, while the victims are coping with their pain and nightmares. I do not know where you are from but I am glad to be in a country where we can punish those that have caused pain to others. That's the type of Christianity I Practice!

Otherwise, I thank you for putting into writing this disturbing mindset of yours. I pray that the Vatican is documenting yours and other comments that perfectly display the deranged conditioning that occurs in your cult.

1. UNDERSTANDING: Not to my taste, but hey, a monkey is free to swing any which way, but back to you, i am NOT understanding the practice of current church leadership - i'll describe as kiko whoreship, they love their kiko, the "ncw pope"... (Church Groupies)

3. FIGHTING, DAMM right, those task to protect us are NOT, so we bring the fight to any who need help... (PS; pope kiko-scared to come here, sent his dog "jersey boy" women here sent dog home yelping)...

4. SINS; blasphemy is NOT forgiven, when you sin against a CHILDREN, YOU sin against god...

5. SCANDALS: self inflected, if job is to PROTECT/DEFEND, f??k do the job, otherwise GET the F??K, out of the WAY)...

FINALLY: YES, God will judge every man according to his works, pity the man who does NOTHING to protect God's CHERISHED Children...

Okay, Mr. Ayorinde, Guam is so far from your reach and I do not think you can come over by boat. My suggestion is for you to concentrate the scope of your energies to Boka Haram. I believe the young schoolgirls there need to be rescued from their kdnappers? Start with that, and we can open our ears to listen to your harangue. You have no idea what went on here and the ongoing turmoil initiated by the archbishop you defend and his neo henchmen.

What a filthy dirt bag you are Ayorinde! You people? We all love bishops and archbishops smeared in scandals? I don't know where you learned that Jesus is coming soon to reward everyone but I'm pretty sure you are not one of them. The only reward I hope you get from him is a slap in the face.Is that how you would like us to treat you for the past sins you have committed? Tell "us people" what you have done that could be as filthy and despicable as what Apuron has done. Yes, we will forgive you after you come out and piblicly confess your sins, remove yourself from position of authority, make restitution to your victims and their families, serve time in jail. Apuron has not even done the first.Or would you prefer I just forgive you even though you molested my son last night and you tell me you are sorry today. Should I also forgive you tomorrow after you have molested my nephew? Would you like me to forgive you again the following day? What about my son and nephew? Have you said sorry to them yet or are you accusing them of lying? Do you see how ludicrous your statements are in light of what is going on here? You and "your people" need to stay out of my and "my people's" affairs which you seem to know nothing about. In other words, shut the hell up you filthy neo animal. Go preach your dirt to people as ignorant as you are. Jesus is coming soon to reward everyone? What a kook!

I judge you Ayorinde. I judge you to be The Winner of the Ignoramus Of The Year Award! Congratulations! You can claim your prize and award at the cesspool nearest you or your closest NCW Community. Same thing.

Listen up Everyone! Mr. Ayoreni is from Nigeria so he probably is just trolling out site to let us know we have won $1 Million dollars and to ask us all for our bank account information in order to transfer the funds to us.

Nice comments @ all. Mr D.Anthony mentioned that pity the man who does nothing to protect the children of God. Apostle Peter tried protecting Jesus when he pulled out his sword and struck one of his guards, we all know the reply Jesus gave to him, "those that live by the sword~shall perish by the sword". In the book of acts, when herod tormented the church by slaying some brethen and putting Peter in captivity, the church prayed, and God answered their prayers.Bishops and Arch Bishops are anointed men of God, and the bible says, touch not my anointed and do my prophet no harm. Who are you to displace them? Who are you to complain against their actions? Are you the God that chose or called them? All you need do is pray for God to unite and purify your church against the attack of the enemy, which is Lucifer. The Bishops are not your problems in Guam, your problem is the devil using guile means to cause division and chaos, and it is only those who have wisdom that can discern these. God bless you all brethen.

This is so sad. Agree with you Tim- why are they not reaching out to comfort those just as you said. I am currently in the mainland and previously, I would have simply found a Catholic Church and attended mass. But now I am so worried. I, first, must find the names of the local parishes and then search their website for their groups and missions and social stuff and communities to insure that "neo" does not pop up anywhere. So sad what a division this is. Praying for all that is currently happening in Guam.

Archbishop Hon did not acknowledge Walter (at this point the reason irrelevant). / Silver lining: The eye witness accounts, pictures and videos document the event and are known throughout the world. Rome certainly knows.

For those who are critical of the actions of CCOG, LFM and individual catholics, please realize that we are literally fighting for our church. If we don't take a stand who will? If our church is taken over by a parasitic cult masquerading as a legitimate lay movement, what will you say then? "What happened to the church? Where is the altar? Why are they carrying serving platters around the church?"

As nauseating as the thought may be, our efforts could fail. Guam could be the first place in the world with the revised creed: one, holy, catholic, apostolic and neocatechumenal church. (Excuse me for a moment, I need to vomit.)

I have hope that the problems in our local church will be solved. It is very clear that pressure from the laity is necessary for this to happen. And so we march on.